Writing implement



Sept; 1, 1964 N. A. ZEPELL WRITING IMPLEMENT Filed July 3, 1961INVENTOR.

NATHAN ALTER ZE ELL AT RIVEY United States Patent 3,146,758 WRITINGIMPLEMENT Nathan Alter Zepell, Fort Madison, Iowa, asssgnor to W. A.Shaetler Pen Company, Fort Madison, Iowa, a corporation of DelawareFiled July 3, 1961, Ser. No. 121,710 9 Claims. (l. 1201) This inventionrelates to writing implements and has special reference to a writinginstrument having a writing assembly and an eradicating element movablebetween concealed and exposed positions.

More particularly, this invention relates to a writing implement havinga barrel with open ends, a writing assembly mounted within the barrelfor movement between a concealed position and an exposed positionprojecting through one of the open ends, an eradicating element disposedwithin the barrel for movement between a concealed position and anexposed position projecting through the other open end, and an operatingunit within the barrel between the writing assembly and the eradicatingelement. The operating unit includes a first portion engaging thewriting assembly and a second portion engaging the eradicating element,the first and second portions being reciprocal in opposite directions,there being an arm mounted externally of the barrel for transversemovement thereon between inward and outward positions, the first andsecond portions of the operating unit being reciprocated in oppositedirections to move the writing assembly and the eradicating elementbetween the concealed and the exposed positions in response to movementof the arm between the inward and outward positions.

In the usual pencil or ball point pen of the so-called liquid lead type,an eradicating element, such as an eraser, normally is provided. In suchimplements, both the writing assembly and the eraser usually are fixedrelative to the barrel, although in some instances the eraser is coveredby a removable cap or protector.

In instruments of the type described above, there is the ever presentlikelihood of staining or soiling a shirt or coat pocket or the interiorof a handbag, particularly with the liquid lead type of device whereinthe marking tip generally is exposed. Also, in such implements theexposed point may be damaged as a result of contact with some otherimplement which might be carried in a pocket or purse.

' The writing instrument with an exposed eraser is objectionable to manyusers because of the unsightly appearance of a partially used eraser.Such individuals prefer an eraser covered by a removable cap or thelike, but

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FIG. 1 is a broken longitudinal sectional view of a writing implementconstructed in accordance with. a preferred embodiment of thisinvention; and

FIG. 2 is a broken longitudinal sectional view of the embodiment of FIG.1, showing a change in position of the clip assembly, the writingassembly and the eradicating or eraser element.

Referring now to the drawing, there is disclosed a writing implementhaving a barrel 10, consisting of a forward portion 12 and a rearward orcap portion 14 secured in axial alignment. As will be understood bythose in the art, these portions may be made of any one of a number ofwell known plastic or metal materials providing the rigidity, strengthand long wearing surface characteristics required in writing instrumentsor similar articles.

The cap portion 14 includes an internally threaded area 16 adjacent itslower open end, the threaded area 16 being releasably engageable with areduced section 18 extending rearwardly of the forward portion 12.

A writing assembly 20 is mounted within the barrel 10, the assemblyincluding a generally cylindrical reservoir section 22 which is reducedin diameter adjacent its forward end to provide an intermediate shoulder24. Mounted at the forward end of the reduced section 26 of thereservoir section 22 is a writing point 28 of the type having arotatable ball 30 for applying a marking medium to a Writing surface.The marking medium may comprise a finely divided dispersion of graphite,carbon black or similar pigments in a suitable vehicle, whereby a lineapproximating that of regular pencil lead in appearance may be realized.

Extending through the lower end of the forward bar-' rel portion 12 isan aperture 32, which is of smaller diameter than the bore 34 therebyproviding an internal shoulder 36. Disposed between the shoulder 36 andthe intermediate shoulder 24 of the writing assembly 20 is a resilientelement 38, such as a coil spring, which urges the this not only resultsin the inconvenience of having to i Accordingly, one object of thepresent invention is the provision of an implement having a writingassembly and an eradicating element which are reciprocal betweenconcealed and exposed positions.

Another object of this invention is to provide an instrument having awriting assembly and an eradicating element which will movesimultaneously between concealed and exposed positions.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an implement ofthe above described type, in which the reciprocal movement of thewriting assembly and eradicating element are eifected by a simple manualmovement of an externally disposed clip arm.

Further and additional objects of this invention will be apparent fromthe following description, when taken with the accompanying drawing, inwhich:

writing assembly 2th in a rearward direction relative to the aperture 32at the forward end of the barrel portion 12.

The cap 14 includes a plurality of concentric bores, including a primarybore 40 extending through the major portion of the cap 14, a reducedintermediate bore 42 and a still further reduced bore 44 extendingthrough the upper end of the cap 14. Disposed for movement through thereduced bore 44 is an eradicating element 46. In the illustratedembodiment, the eradicating element 46 comprises a rubber eraser mountedin an inexpensive disposable metal cup 48.

An operating unit is disposed within the barrel 10 between the writingassembly 29 and the eradicating element 46. The unit includes a firstportion 50 of generally cylindrical configuration, with a concentriccircular recess 52 provided in its lower surface to receive the upperend of the reservoir section 22. The portion 50 is slidable in theprimary bore 40 of the cap 14 for movement with the writing assembly 20,as will be de scribed in more detail hereinafter. The operating unitfurther includes a second portion 54 having generally circular portions56, 58 and 6t) slidable in bores 40, 42 and 44, respectively, of the cap14. The upper end of the second portion 54 includes a centrally formedcavity 62 of a diameter adapted to frictionally receive the metal cup 48of the eradicating element 46. Disposed between the shoulder 64 (formedby bores 42 and 44 of the cap 14) and the shoulder 66 (formed by thecircular portions 53 and 6%) of the second portion 54) is a coil spring68 urging the second portion 54 forwardly within the barrel 16 As can bedetermined readily from the drawing, spring 68 preferably should beweaker than the spring 38 for a purpose to be described in more detailherebelow.

Mounted externally of the cap 14 is an arm 70 which is formed as apocket clip. The arm is fabricated from a sheet of flat metal, such asbrass or the like, and plated or otherwise finished so as to provide apleasing or attractive appearance.

Spaced from the rearward end of the arm 70 is mounting section 72 whichmay comprise a pair of substantially parallel spaced ears which extendthrough an aperture 74 in the cap or rearward barrel portion 14. Theforward end of the arm terminates in a contact member '76 disposed formovement through a lower aperture 7 8 which is axially aligned with theupper aperture '74.

Acutating means comprising an elongated resilient member St is fixed tothe mounting section 72 by means of a plurality of deformed clampingportions formed integrally with the mounting section. The resilientmember 80 extends within the barrel 1t) forwardly of the mountingsection 72 and terminates adjacent the lower aperture 78 for engagementwith the contact member 7a. The dependent end of the resilient member S6is formed so as to provide a substantially transverse lower segment 82,angularly disposed inclined camming surfaces 84 and 86 and a substantialtransverse upper section 38.

The first portion 59 of the operating unit defines a generallyrectangular recess 99 which is of a height substantially equal to theaxial distance between the apex 92 and the lower edge of the transversesegment 82. The second portion 54 of the operating unit has a generallytrapezoidal shaped recess 94 which is of a width substantially equal tothe width of the recess 90 of the first portion 50.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the resilient coil spring 38 urges the writingassembly 20 in a rearward direction until the lower surface defined bythe recess 99 abuts the transverse segment 82 of the resilient member80. Such abutment limits the rearward movement of the writing unit 20and the first portion 50 so as to align the upper rearward surface ofthe first portion 59 substantially transversely of apex 92.Simultaneously, the resilient spring 48 urges the second portion 54 in aforward direction until the lower surface of the first portion is inabutment therewith. This automatically aligns the lower surface of thesecond portion 54 substantially transversely of apex 92. As will beunderstood from the drawing, the edge of the inner or lower surface ofthe second portion 54 and the adjacent edge of the inner or uppersurface of the first portion 50 are beveled slightly as at 96 and 98 toprovide a slight lead in with respect to inclined surfaces 84 and 86.

As pointed out hereinabove, in the illustrated embodiment the spring 48is preferably weaker than spring 38 in order to assure that in theretracted position of the writing assembly 20 and the eradicatingelement 46 the portion 50 of the operating unit will fully engage thetransverse segment of the outwardly positioned resilient member 80 (seeFIG. 2), and the apex 92 of the resilient member camming portion will beproperly aligned with the abutting surfaces of the two portions 50 and54 of the operating unit.

The arm 70 and resilient member 80 will move as a unit substantiallytransversely of the barrel between an outward position, as illustratedin FIG. 1, and an inward position as shown in FIG. 2. When the arm 70and resilient member 80 are in the outward position, the first andsecond portions of the operating unit are in abutment with one another,and the writing unit and eradicating element 46 are disposed in aconcealed position within the barrel 10. To extend both the writingassembly and the eradicating element, it is necessary merely to pressinwardly on the lower end of the arm 70, which pressure causes the arm70 and resilient member 80 to move inwardly together. Such movementresults in the entry of the apex 92 of the resilient member between theabutting first and second portions and 54 of the operating unit,

6. thereby camming these portions in opposite directions within thebarrel lit and advancing the writing assembly and eradicating element tothe above described exposed positions for use.

Retraction of the writing assembly and eradicating element 46 isaccomplished merely by inward pressure on the upper end of the arm '70above the offset provided on the mounting section 72 for abutment withthe cap 14 adjacent the upper edge of aperture 74-. Such inward pressureon the upper end of the clip arm 70 causes corresponding outwardmovement of the lower end of the arm 70 and the resilient member 89.This results in disengagement of the substantially transverse segment 82and upper section 88 of the resilient member 8%) from the lower surfaceof the second portion and the upper surface of the first portion of theoperating unit, whereby the writing assembly and eradicating element aremoved to the retracted position under the influence of springs 38 and48.

When the arm 7% is in the above described inward position, the writingimplement cannot be clipped to a shirt or coat pocket, therebyeliminating any possibility of inadvertent soilage. The only way inwhich the implement can be clipped to a pocket is to first move the arm7% to its outward position, whereafter the contact portion 76 may bemoved manually away from the barrel 10 to receive the outer edge of acoat or shirt pocket. As will be understood, of course, the resilientmember 8% permits movement of the arm 7t? in a direction away from thebarrel ltl preparatory to placing the implement in a pocket.

As will be apparent from the foregoing description, the presentinvention provides a mechanism which may be manufactured readily andinexpensively, but which is quite rugged and dependable in operation,requiring no specialized knowledge or handling on the part of the user.It will be evident that the mechanism may be utilized with variou typesof writing assemblies, such as the usual pencil mechanism, a fountainpen point unit, or other types of marking instruments in which it isdesirable to have an eradicating element or eraser available during use.It will be understood, therefore, that this invention is not to belimited to the embodiment described above, and it is contemplated, bythe appended claims, to cover any such modifications as fall within thetrue spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. In a writing implement, a barrel having open ends, a writing assemblymounted within said barrel for movement between a concealed position andan exposed position projecting through one of said open ends, aneradicating element disposed within said barrel for movement between aconcealed position and an exposed position projecting through the otherof said open ends, an operating unit within said barrel between saidwriting assembly and said eradicating element, said unit including afirst portion abutting said writing assembly and a second portionengaging said eradicating element, said first and said second portionsbeing reciprocable simultaneously in opposite directions relative toeach other within said barrel, a clip arm mounted externally of saidbarrel for transverse movement thereon between inward and outwardpositions, and actuating means disposed within said barrel fortransverse movement with said clip arm, said actuating means defining aplurality of inclined surfaces, each of said first and second portionshaving an innner edge disposed for sliding engagement with one of saidinclined surfaces, whereby said first and said second portions may bereciprocated in opposite directions to move said writing assembly andsaid eradicating element between said concealed and said exposedpositions in response to movement of said arm between said inward andsaid outward positions.

2. In a writing implement, a barrel having open ends, a writing assemblymounted within said barrel for movement between a concealed position andan exposed position projecting through one of said open ends, aneradicating element disposed within said barrel for movement between aconcealed position and an exposed position projecting through the otherof said open ends, an operating unit within said barrel between saidwriting assembly and said eradicating element, said unit including afirst portion abutting said writing assembly and a second portionreleasably engaging said eradicating element, said first and said secondportions being reciprocable simultaneously in opposite directionsrelative to each other within said barrel, a clip arm disposedexternally of said barrel, said arm having a free end portion movablesubstantially transversely of said barrel between inward and outwardpositions, and actuating means including a plurality of resilientelements urging said first and second portions toward each other and anactuating element disposed within said barrel for transverse movementwith said free end portion, said actuating element defining a pair ofinclined surfaces, each of said first and second portions being providedwith an inner beveled edge disposed for sliding engagement with one ofsaid inclined surfaces, whereby said first and said second portions maybe moved in opposite directions to move said writing assembly and saideradicating element between said concealed and said exposed positions inresponse to movement of said free end portion between said inward andsaid outward positions.

3. In a writing implement, a barrel having open forward and rearwardends, a writing assembly mounted within said barrel for movement betweena concealed position and an exposed position projecting through saidopen forward end, an eraser disposed within said barrel for movementbetween a concealed position and an exposed position projecting throughsaid open rearward end, an operating unit within said barrel betweensaid writing assembly and said eraser, said unit including a firstportion abutting said writing assembly and a second portion releasablyengaging said eraser, said first and said second portions beingreciprocable simultaneously within said barrel in opposite directionsrelative to each other, a clip arm disposed externally of said barrel,said arm including a mounting portion adjacent its upper end, saidmounting portion being movable relative to said barrel to permittransverse movement of the lower end of said arm between inward andoutward positions, and actuating means including a pair of resilientelements urging said first and said second portions toward each otherand an actuating element depending within said barrel from said mountingportion for transverse movement with the lower end of said arm, saidactuating element defining a pair of inclined surfaces terminating incontiguous transverse segments, each of said first and second portionsbeing provided with an inner beveled edge disposed for slidingengagement with one of said inclined surfaces, said inclined surfacesand said transverse segments successively engaging said beveled edgesand reciprocating said first and said second portions toward said openends to relasably retain said writing assembly and said eraser in saidexposed position in response to movement of the lower end of said armfrom said outward to said inward position. i

4. In a writing implement, a barrel having open ends, a writing assemblymounted Within said barrel for movement between a concealed position andan exposed position projecting through one of said open ends, aneradicating element disposed within said barrel for movement between aconcealed position and an exposed position projecting through the otherof said open ends, an operating unit within said barrel between saidwriting assembly and said eradicating element, said unit including afirst portion abutting said writing assembly and a second portionreleasably engaging said eradicating element, said first and secondportions having inner beveled edges and being reciprocablesimultaneously in opposite directions relative to each other within saidbarrel, a clip arm attached to and disposed externally of said barrel,said arm having a free end portion movable substantially transversely ofsaid barrel between an inward and an outward position, and actuatingmeans disposed within said barrel, said actuating means including meansresiliently urging said first and second portions toward each other anda cam element disposed adjacent to and movable transversely with thefree end of said arm, said cam element having a pair of inclinedsurfaces disposed for sliding engagement with the inner beveled edges ofsaid first and second portions, whereby said writing assembly and saideradicating element may be moved toward their exposed positions inresponse to movement of said arm and said cam element in one directionand they may be moved toward their concealed positions under theinfluence of said resilient means in response to movement of said armand said cam element in the opposite direction.

5. In a writing implement, a barrel having open ends, a writing assemblymounted within said barrel for movement between a concealed position andan exposed position projecting through one of said open ends, aneradicating element disposed within said barrel for movement between aconcealed position and an exposed position projecting through the otherof said open ends, an operating unit within said barrel between saidwriting assembly and said eradicating element, said unit including twoseparate portions which are in operative engagement respectively withsaid writing assembly and said eradicating element, and actuating meansincluding resilient means urging said operating unit portions towardeach other and a cam element movable substantially transversely from aposition laterally adjacent said operating unit portions to a positionbetween said portions, said cam element defining a pair of surfacesinclined toward the open ends of said barrel, each of said surfacesbeing slidingly engaged with a respective one of said operating unitportions, whereby said portions may be moved simultaneously in oppositedirections to efiect corresponding simultaneous movement of said writingassembly and said eradicating element between their respective concealedand said exposed positions.

6. In a writing implement, a barrel having open ends, a writing assemblymounted within said barrel for movement between a concealed position andan exposed position projecting through one of said open ends, aneradicating element disposed within said barrel for movement between aconcealed position and an exposed position projecting through the otherof said open ends, an operating unit within said barrel between saidwriting assembly and said eradicating element, said unit including firstand second portions in operative engagement with said writing assemblyand said eradicating element, said portions being reciprocablesimultaneously in opposite directions relative to each other within saidbarrel, and actuating means including resilient means operatively urgingsaid first and second portions toward each other and a transverselymovable cam element having a pair of cam surfaces, said cam elementbeing disposed for engagement of one of the cam surfaces thereof withsaid operating unit first portion and for engagement of the other camsurface thereof with said operating unit second portion, whereby saidwriting unit assembly and said eradicating element may be reciprocatedwith their respective operating unit portions between said concealed andsaid exposed positions in response to transverse movement of said camelement between inward and outward positions.

7. In a writing implement, a barrel having open ends, a first assemblymounted within said barrel for movement between a concealed position andan exposed position projecting through one of said open ends, a secondassembly disposed within said barrel for movement between a concealedposition and an exposed position projecting through the other of saidopen ends, at least one of said assemblies having a writing point, anoperating unit within said barrel between said assemblies, said unitincluding a first portion engaging said first assembly and a secondportion engaging said second assembly, said first and said secondportions being reciprocable simultaneously in opposite directionsrelative to each other within said barrel, an arm mounted externally ofsaid barrel for transverse movement thereon between inward and outwardpositions, and actuating means including a cam element having angularlyarranged cam surfaces thereon, said cam element being disposed fortransverse movement by said arm between said operating unit portions toengage and cam said portions axially away from each other, whereby saidfirst and second assemblies may be moved from be tween their concealedto their exposed positions in response to movement of said arm from saidoutward position to said inward position.

8. In a writing implement, a barrel having open ends, a first assemblymounted within said barrel for movement between a concealed position andan exposed position projecting through one of said open ends, a secondassembly disposed within said barrel for movement between a concealedposition and an exposed position projecting through the other of saidopen ends, at least one of said assemblies having a writing point, meansresiliently urging said writing assemblies toward their concealedpositions and manually operable means including a cam element movabletransversely in one direction toward a position between said assembliesto efiect camming of said assemblies away from each other and towardtheir exposed positions, said cam element being manually movable in theopposite direction toward a position laterally adjacent said assembliesto permit movement of said assemblies to their concealed positions underthe influence of said resilient means.

9. In a writing implement, a barrel having open ends, a first assemblymounted within said barrel for movement between a concealed position andan exposed position projecting through one of said open ends, a secondassembly disposed within said barrel for movement between a concealedposition and an exposed position projecting through the other of saidopen ends, at least one of said assemblies having a writing point, anoperating unit within said barrel between said first and said secondassemblies, said unit including two separate portions which are inoperative engagement with said assemblies, and actuating means includingresilient means urging said unit portions toward each other, and a camelement movable transversely from a position laterally adjacent saidoperating unit portions to a position between said portions, said camelement defining a pair of inclined surfaces, the inner edge of each ofsaid operating portions slidingly engaging one of said inclined surfacesduring transverse movement of said cam element whereby said portions maybe moved simultaneously in opposite directions to effect correspondingsimultaneous movement of said first and said second assemblies betweentheir respective concealed and exposed positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS249,230 Doyle Nov. 8, 1881 364,916 Goldsmith June 14, 1887 381,877Hoffman Apr. 24, 1888 1,518,822 Saadi Dec. 9, 1924 2,881,736 ZepelovitchApr. 14, 1959 2,988,055 Plaat June 13, 1961 3,079,894 Iohmann Mar. 5,1963 FOREIGN PATENTS 805,573 Great Britain Dec. 10, 1958 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,146,758

September 1, 1964 Nathan Alter Zepell It is hereby certified that errorappears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that thesaid Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

In the grant, lines 2 and 12, and in the heading to the printetlspecifications, line 4, for "W. A, Shaeffer Pen Company",

each occurrence, read Au Sheaffer Pen Company Signed and sealed this22nd day of December 1964.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents ERNEST W. SWIDER AttcstingOfficer

8. IN A WRITING IMPLEMENT, A BARREL HAVING OPEN ENDS, A FIRST ASSEMBLYMOUNTED WITHIN SAID BARREL FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN A CONCEALED POSITION ANDAN EXPOSED POSITION PROJECTING THROUGH ONE OF SAID OPEN ENDS, A SECONDASSEMBLY DISPOSED WITHIN SAID BARREL FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN A CONCEALEDPOSITION AND AN EXPOSED POSITION PROJECTING THROUGH THE OTHER OF SAIDOPEN ENDS, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID ASSEMBLIES HAVING A WRITING POINT, MEANSRESILIENTLY URGING SAID WRITING ASSEMBLIES TOWARD THEIR CONCEALEDPOSITIONS AND MANUALLY OPERABLE MEANS INCLUDING A CAM ELEMENT MOVABLETRANSVERSELY IN ONE DIRECTION TOWARD A POSITION BETWEEN SAID ASSEMBLIESTO EFFECT CAMMING OF SAID ASSEMBLIES AWAY FROM EACH OTHER AND TOWARDTHEIR EXPOSED POSITIONS, SAID CAM ELEMENT BEING MANUALLY MOVABLE IN THEOPPOSITE DIRECTION TOWARD A POSITION LATERALLY ADJACENT SAID ASSEMBLIESTO PERMIT MOVEMENT OF SAID ASSEMBLIES TO THEIR CONCEALED POSITIONS UNDERTHE INFLUENCE OF SAID RESILIENT MEANS.